Problematic alcohol use and sexual assault among male college students: The moderating and mediating roles of alcohol outcome expectancies

Abstract

Background and Objectives Extant research shows a strong relationship between alcohol use problems and sexual aggression. However, less is known about the effect of intermediary factors (eg, alcohol expectations) that may increase the likelihood of and/or explain sexual aggression during alcohol‐related incidents. The present study examined alcohol outcome expectancies' (OE) mediating and/or moderating influence on the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression among male college students. Methods and Results One hundred and forty eight (n = 148) male college students volunteered for the study. Seventy‐seven males self‐reported committing at least one act of sexual aggression in their lifetime. Among those who sexually aggressed, 74% also reported symptoms of problematic drinking. Results show that sexuality‐related alcohol OE fully mediated the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Results also showed that aggression‐related alcohol OE moderated the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Specifically, aggression‐related alcohol OE only influenced the relationship between problematic alcohol use and sexual aggression when alcohol problems were less severe. Conclusions and Scientific Significance Discussion implicates the possible role alcohol prevention may play in reducing sexual aggression on college campuses, particularly as it relates to adjusting alcohol OE among those most likely to perpetrate. (Am J Addict 2014;23:321–328)

“An Adventure That Went Wrong”: Reasons Given by Convicted Perpetrators of Multiple Perpetrator Sexual Offending for Their Involvement in the Offense

“…There may also be an expectancy effect (Collins & Messerschmidt, 1993 ), whereby if a person believes that they will behave in a certain way when they drink alcohol, then they will behave in that way. It has been found that men expect to feel more aggressive and sexually aroused after drinking alcohol (Tuliao & McChargue, 2014 ). This is linked to the deviance disavowal theory (Miller, Maguin, & Downs, 1997 ), which suggests that some people use alcohol as an excuse for premeditated behaviors and then blame those behaviors on alcohol.…”

Does Alcohol Contribute to College Men’s Sexual Assault Perpetration? Between-and Within-Person Effects Over Five Semesters

“…Compared with nonperpetrators, perpetrators drink more heavily (Koss & Gaines, 1993;Locke & Mahalik, 2005;Tuliao & McChargue, 2014) and more frequently within dating and sexual situations (Abbey et al, 2001;Schwartz et al, 2001). Although the positive association between drinking and sexual assault is consistent with a pharmacological effect, heavy drinking men also possess characteristics associated with sexual assault perpetration (e.g., impulsivity, delinquency; Abbey et al, 2006;Thompson et al, 2011).…”

Men Who Sexually Assault Drinking Women: Similarities and Differences With Men Who Sexually Assault Sober Women and Nonperpetrators

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated that sexually aggressive men differ from nonsexually aggressive men on many alcohol-related behaviors and beliefs. Sexual assault perpetrators have stronger sexuality-related alcohol expectancies than do nonperpetrators (Abbey, McAuslan, Zawacki, Clinton, & Buck, 2001;Tuliao & McChargue, 2014;Wilson, Calhoun, & McNair, 2002). Sexual assault perpetrators also consume more alcohol, overall and in sexual situations; engage in more heavy episodic drinking; and have more alcohol-related problems (for reviews see Abbey, 2002;Abbey et al, 2014;Testa, 2002).…”